About Xero
Overview
Xero is cloud-based accounting software for small businesses. It connects you to your bank, accountant, bookkeeper, and other business apps in one platform.
Over 4.9 million customers use Xero to manage finances, control cash flow, send invoices, track expenses, accept payments, and run payroll. The platform includes JAX, an AI finance assistant that handles routine tasks and delivers actionable insights.
Key Benefits
- Free standard ACH bill payments are included in Xero business plans.
- Automated bank reconciliation and invoice reminders reduce manual data entry.
- JAX AI assistant provides real-time answers to business questions using public information and financial data.
- A Xero Coach provides free personalized onboarding support for your first 90 days.
- Syft Analytics delivers visually rich business insights across all plans.
- Hubdoc automatically captures and pulls bills and receipts into Xero.
How It Works
You sign up for a Xero plan and get free onboarding support from a Xero Coach who helps set up the account, connect bank feeds, and configure cash-flow and analytics dashboards. You then connect your bank accounts for automatic transaction imports, send invoices and quotes, track bills and receipts, and reconcile transactions manually or with auto-reconciliation.
JAX AI sits alongside your work, answering financial questions and surfacing insights. For payroll, you can integrate with Gusto to calculate pay and deductions, pay employees, and update Xero accounts automatically.
Use Cases
- Construction and trades businesses — send quotes and invoices, track expenses, and manage jobs from a mobile phone.
- Real estate agents — track property performance, view client records on the go, and manage taxes.
- Retail businesses — monitor cash flow on the go and reduce manual administrative work.
- Accountants and bookkeepers — manage clients and staff with Xero HQ and Practice Manager tools.
- Small business owners — handle invoicing, bill payments, expense tracking, and payroll in one place.
- Enterprise firms — manage compliance workflows and use Xero Workpapers for faster compliance.
Why Choose This Product
Xero is suited for small to medium businesses wanting an all-in-one accounting, invoicing, and payments platform with AI assistance. The free onboarding coach and app marketplace with hundreds of integrations lower the setup barrier. User interface and tap-to-pay functionality on mobile set it apart from QuickBooks according to the site.
Xero Pros & Cons
- Free ACH bill payments included in business plans
- AI assistant JAX handles routine finance tasks
- Free 90-day personalized onboarding with a Xero Coach
- Over 4.9 million customers
- Integrates with Gusto payroll and 1000+ apps via Xero App Store
- Early plan limited to 20 invoices and 5 bills per month
- Auto-reconcile is in Beta on Growing and Established plans only
- Cross-border and international bill payments are optional with fees
Key Features
Invoice and Quotes
All plansSend quotes and invoices with online payment acceptance built in.
Bank Reconciliation
All plansReconcile bank transactions manually or with auto-reconcile (Beta on Growing and Established plans).
JAX AI Assistant
AI finance partner that answers business questions and delivers insights while you work in Xero.
Cash Flow Forecasting
All plansForecast cash flow up to 30 days on Early, 60 on Growing, and 180 days on Established.
Smart Document Capture
All plansAutomatically pull bills and receipts into Xero using Hubdoc.
Multi-Currency Support
EstablishedUse multiple currencies and make international bill payments on the Established plan.
Tap to Pay
Accept payments on the go with tap-to-pay on both Android and iPhone.
Performance Dashboards
Growing+Customizable dashboards with graphs and tailored financial health scorecards.
Payroll Integration
Integrate with Gusto to calculate pay and deductions, pay employees, and update accounts.
Bill Payments
All plansMake domestic free ACH bill payments on all plans and international payments on Established.
Xero Pricing
View full pricing →- Send quotes and 20 invoices
- Accept online invoice payments
- 5 bills
- Reconcile bank transactions
- Smart Document Capture
- View real-time reports
- W-9 + 1099 management
- Sales tax
- 30 day cash flow forecast
- Free ACH domestic bill payments
- Everything in Early
- Send invoices and quotes (unlimited)
- Automate bill entry and track bills
- Auto-reconcile bank transactions (Beta)
- 60 day cash flow forecast
- Customize performance dashboards
- Tailored financial health scorecards
- Everything in Growing
- 180 day cash flow forecast
- Analyze KPIs and ratios
- Use multiple currencies
- Track time and costs for projects
- Employee expense and mileage claims
- Benchmark against the industry
- International bill payments
| Feature | Early $25/mo | Growing $55/mo | Established $90/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invoice and Quotes | |||
| Bank Reconciliation | |||
| Cash Flow Forecasting | |||
| Smart Document Capture | |||
| Multi-Currency Support | |||
| Performance Dashboards | |||
| Bill Payments |
Pricing extracted from the product website and may change. Check the source for current details.
Frequently asked questions about Xero
How does the one month free work?
Purchase any Xero plan and you get the first month free. The subscription auto-renews monthly until canceled.
Can I pay the subscription annually?
Xero subscriptions auto-renew monthly unless you cancel. The site offers monthly billing with no mention of an annual billing option.
Will my data be safe and private?
Xero states its cloud accounting software is safe and secure, and the company maintains a privacy notice and security practices on its site.
How can a Xero coach help me?
A Xero Coach provides free personalized onboarding support for the first 90 days, helping set up Xero, connect bank feeds, and configure cash-flow and analytics dashboards.
Is Xero free?
Xero offers a free plan with optional paid upgrades. See the pricing section for what's included in each tier.
How much does Xero cost?
Xero offers the following plans: Early, Growing, Established. See the pricing section for what's included in each tier and any per-seat or usage-based costs.